Guide
Christmas Lights in Dallas–Fort Worth 2026: The 9 Big Shows Compared
By the Farms & Fairs editorial team · Updated November 6, 2026 · How we check listings
Dallas–Fort Worth spreads its holiday lights over a big map. The gardens are in Dallas and Fort Worth, the theme park and the Christmas market are in Arlington, the ice is in Grapevine, and the farms with light trails are an hour out in the countryside. Picking one is less about which is "best" and more about how far you want to drive, whether you want to walk or stay in the car, and how much you want to spend.
We compared the nine main shows using each organizer's own pages, checked on November 6, 2026. Where a show hasn't posted its 2026 dates or prices, we say so instead of guessing.
The 2026 shows at a glance
| Show | Where | How you see it | 2026 season | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday at the Arboretum | Dallas Arboretum, White Rock Lake | Walk | Nov 11 – Jan 3 | Night $35–$40; Night Owl $15 |
| ICE! | Gaylord Texan, Grapevine | Walk (indoors) | Nov 13 – Jan 3 | Timed; varies by date |
| Christmas in the Garden | Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Walk | Nov 20 – Jan 3 | Adults $20–$34 last season |
| Kadee Farm Trail of Lights | Greenville | Walk | Nov 21 – Dec 19 (Tue–Sun) | $10; 3 and under free |
| Holiday in the Park | Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington | Walk + rides | Nov 22 – Dec 30 (select days) | $69 |
| Prairie Lights | Lynn Creek Park, Grand Prairie | Drive-thru | Listed Nov 26 – Dec 31 | $50 a car |
| The Great Texas Christmas | Yesterland Farm, Canton | Wagon ride + rides | Nov 27 – Dec 27 | Not posted yet |
| Vitruvian Lights | Vitruvian Park, Addison | Walk | Expected Nov 28 – Jan 3 | Free |
| Dallas Zoo Lights | Dallas Zoo | Walk | Not announced yet | Not announced |
Which one should you pick?
You'd rather stay in the car: Prairie Lights
Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie is a two-mile drive along Joe Pool Lake with more than 5 million lights. It is priced per car ($50, or $149 for the Fast Pass lane that skips the queue), so the bigger your family, the better the value. Halfway along you can stop at Holiday Village and walk through a lit forest. With toddlers, grandparents or the dog, this is the easiest option on the list.
The classic garden night: the Arboretum or Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Both gardens put on a long, walkable trail, and they suit different sides of the metroplex. The Dallas Arboretum is in its last year of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, so expect crowds. To spend less, book the Night Owl slot from 8:30 pm ($15) or one of the Holiday Cheer nights ($12) on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
In Fort Worth, Christmas in the Garden is a mile-long trail set to music, with the Winter Cathedral and a field of lit bluebonnets. Entry is timed every 15 minutes, parking costs extra and the garden takes no cash.
The kids want rides: Six Flags
Holiday in the Park is the one for kids who would be bored by a garden trail: lights, shows and many of the rides open. A day ticket and the Silver Pass both cost $69, and the pass covers unlimited visits plus parking through 2027, so if there is any chance of a second trip, buy the pass. The Texas Christkindl Market at Globe Life Field is a ten-minute drive away.
When it's cold or wet: ICE! at the Gaylord Texan
ICE! is indoors, so the weather doesn't matter. In 2026 the carvings follow a Harry Potter theme, which means weekends will sell out early. It is very cold inside, so bring gloves even if the parkas are provided. Downtown Grapevine and its Christmas Market are a short drive from the resort.
On a budget: Vitruvian Lights or a farm trail
Vitruvian Lights in Addison is free: you walk the paths of a park with its trees wrapped in lights. For a small fee and a drive into the country, Kadee Farm in Greenville runs a Trail of Lights for $10 a person, and you can cut your Christmas tree there the same evening, since the farm stays open until 8 pm.
Making a day of it: Yesterland Farm
The Great Texas Christmas in Canton, an hour east of Dallas on I-20, combines a lights wagon ride and a new 2-million-light train ride with carnival rides, Santa and pre-cut Fraser firs. Some attractions cost extra in tokens, so budget for those as well as the ticket.
When each show opens
- November 11: Holiday at the Arboretum (members' preview November 10)
- November 13: ICE! at the Gaylord Texan
- November 20: Christmas in the Garden, Fort Worth
- November 21: Kadee Farm Trail of Lights
- November 22: Holiday in the Park at Six Flags
- November 26: Prairie Lights (dates as listed on its site)
- November 27: The Great Texas Christmas at Yesterland Farm
- November 28: Vitruvian Lights (expected)
- Not announced yet: Dallas Zoo Lights. We will add its dates once the zoo posts them.
The farm shows close earliest: Kadee on December 19 and Yesterland on December 27. The gardens, Six Flags and ICE! run into the first days of January.
Tips before you go
- Book timed tickets online. The Arboretum charges $4 more at the gate, and Fort Worth's garden charges $5 more on the day. Peak nights in December sell out.
- Weeknights are cheaper and calmer. Several shows price by date, so a Tuesday often costs less than a Saturday.
- Factor in parking. It is extra at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, and free with the Six Flags Silver Pass.
- Combine the trip. Kadee, Yesterland and other tree farms let you see lights and get your tree in one outing. A holiday market pairs well with an evening of lights.
How we checked: dates, hours and prices come from each organizer's website as of November 6, 2026. Where only last season's prices were posted, we say so. Things change during the season, so confirm on the official site before you buy. How we verify listings.